EP1481316A1 - Method for defining a job ticket in a pre-press workflow system - Google Patents

Method for defining a job ticket in a pre-press workflow system

Info

Publication number
EP1481316A1
EP1481316A1 EP03714932A EP03714932A EP1481316A1 EP 1481316 A1 EP1481316 A1 EP 1481316A1 EP 03714932 A EP03714932 A EP 03714932A EP 03714932 A EP03714932 A EP 03714932A EP 1481316 A1 EP1481316 A1 EP 1481316A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
input channel
job
defining
job ticket
input
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP03714932A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Peter c/o AGFA-GEVAERT FRINGS
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Agfa NV
Original Assignee
Agfa Gevaert NV
Agfa Gevaert AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Agfa Gevaert NV, Agfa Gevaert AG filed Critical Agfa Gevaert NV
Priority to EP03714932A priority Critical patent/EP1481316A1/en
Publication of EP1481316A1 publication Critical patent/EP1481316A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
    • G06F3/1203—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
    • G06F3/1205—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
    • G06F3/1275—Print workflow management, e.g. defining or changing a workflow, cross publishing

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the field of pre-press workflow systems, and in particular to job tickets and input channels used in such systems.
  • jobs are processed, e.g. for commercial printing or for the packaging industry.
  • a job involves the processing of a specific set of document pages according to specified instructions.
  • Most modern pre-press workflow systems are job ticket driven. Data processing activities are controlled by job tickets.
  • a "job ticket” defines how a job is to be assembled and processed. It defines (for commercial printing) the pages that are to be assembled, it defines the processing features that are to be used (imposition, separation, trapping, overprinting, rasterization which is also called rendering, etc.), the output engine to which the rendered job will be sent.
  • the job ticket editor allows the user to create and modify job tickets.
  • This input mechanism needs to be associated with a job ticket.
  • This input mechanism may contain so-called
  • input channels e.g. Agfa's Apogee TM Series 3 workflow software lets the user attach job tickets to input channels.
  • Typical input channels can be TCP/IP streaming (TCP/IP stands for Transmission
  • Hot folders a hot folder includes a location of a folder to which a file will be copied that is dropped in the hot folder
  • the document will be processed according to the specified job tickets .
  • the present invention is a method for defining a job ticket in a pre-press workflow system as claimed in independent claim 1.
  • the invention also includes a system and a computer program implementing the method. Preferred embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.
  • At least one input channel is defined and the definition of this at least one input channel is included within the job ticket. This is opposed to the prior art, wherein the input channel definition includes one or more job tickets.
  • An advantage of the invention is that multiple input channels can be defined within one job.
  • Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows an embodiment of a system in accordance with the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  • Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows an embodiment of a job ticket 10 in accordance with the invention; the job ticket 10 includes three input channels 11-13.
  • Fig. 1 represents a portion of a job ticket 10, namely a so-called "production plan", and only the first part thereof.
  • a production plan specifies how a job is to be processed; in Fig. 1, the data are processed according to the shown steps and in the direction of the arrow, i.e. from left to right.
  • a job ticket 10 defines how a job is to be assembled and processed; a job ticket contains a production plan and additional data.
  • Input channel 11 is a hot folder "INI"
  • input channel 12 is an Appletalk TM channel, "IN2”
  • input channel 13 is another hot folder "IN3”.
  • the definition of input channel 11 includes the location of the folder, on disk, to which files will be copied that are dropped in the hot folder (if e.g. a CD-ROM is delivered with files for the concerned job, all files on the CD-ROM will be copied to this folder, possibly after a check that they comply with specific conditions) .
  • the definition of input channel 11 further includes the expected file type, in this case either PS
  • Input channel 12 is defined as an Appletalk TM channel (i.e. for streaming input). It accepts files from a network of Macintosh TM computers, that deliver data directly; the input channel 12 behaves for these computers analogously to a printer.
  • Input channel 13 is defined as a hot folder accepting TIFF files (TIFF stands for Tag Image File Format) . This example illustrates that different settings may be defined for different input channels in a job.
  • the file type has to be PS or PDF, for input channel 11, respectively TIFF, for input channel 13. This mechanism easily and clearly allows for checks, such as the check for a file type.
  • An advantage of the invention is that input channels can easily be stopped when jobs are completed, or when the state of a job changes in some other way.
  • a particular job received all its documents; when the job reaches this state, the job may automatically stop its input channels. This is a protection against further, erroneous documents being input. If an input channel is stopped, it will no longer deliver input. Stopping a hot folder input channel may be implemented by still storing documents in the folder associated with the hot folder, but no longer processing them; stopping an input channel for streaming input may be implemented by removing the stream channel; preferably, the definitions of the input channels are preserved when they are stopped. In this way, stopped input channels can easily be reactivated.
  • Another advantage of the invention is that, preferably, all input channels of a job are deleted if a job is deleted; a separate clean-up operation of the input channels is thus not necessary.
  • an input channel only refers to a single job.
  • this allows to check for possible conflicts - e.g. a hot folder may not be in use by another job.
  • input channels may be stored together with the job in the job ticket, which allows for better system consistency.
  • the input mechanisms for the specified job are set up and the input channel definitions are stored within the job ticket.
  • Job tickets may be stored in an extendable standard format like Adobe's PJTF (Portable Job Ticket Format) or the Job Definition Format, JDF, from CIP .

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Abstract

A method for defining a job ticket (10) in a pre-press workflow system. An input channel (11-13) and a job ticket (10) are defined. The job ticket definition includes the input channel definition.

Description

METHOD FOR DEFINING A JOB TICKET IN A PRE-PRESS WORKFLOW SYSTEM
[DESCRIPTION]
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of pre-press workflow systems, and in particular to job tickets and input channels used in such systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a pre-press workflow system, as disclosed e.g. in patent application WO 01/25907, jobs are processed, e.g. for commercial printing or for the packaging industry. In commercial printing, a job involves the processing of a specific set of document pages according to specified instructions. Most modern pre-press workflow systems are job ticket driven. Data processing activities are controlled by job tickets. A "job ticket" defines how a job is to be assembled and processed. It defines (for commercial printing) the pages that are to be assembled, it defines the processing features that are to be used (imposition, separation, trapping, overprinting, rasterization which is also called rendering, etc.), the output engine to which the rendered job will be sent. The job ticket editor allows the user to create and modify job tickets.
In prior art systems, an input mechanism needs to be associated with a job ticket. This input mechanism may contain so-called
"input channels"; e.g. Agfa's Apogee TM Series 3 workflow software lets the user attach job tickets to input channels. Typical input channels can be TCP/IP streaming (TCP/IP stands for Transmission
Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) , Appletalk TM, FTP (File Transfer Protocol) , hot folders (a hot folder includes a location of a folder to which a file will be copied that is dropped in the hot folder) , etc. When a document (content) is dropped in such an input channel, the document will be processed according to the specified job tickets .
There is still a need for an improved method for defining a job ticket in a pre-press workflow system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a method for defining a job ticket in a pre-press workflow system as claimed in independent claim 1. The invention also includes a system and a computer program implementing the method. Preferred embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.
In a method in accordance with the invention, at least one input channel is defined and the definition of this at least one input channel is included within the job ticket. This is opposed to the prior art, wherein the input channel definition includes one or more job tickets.
An advantage of the invention is that multiple input channels can be defined within one job.
Another advantage is that input channels can easily be stopped when jobs are completed. These advantages will be discussed more in detail below.
Further advantages and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is described with reference to Fig. 1 without the intention to limit the invention thereto; Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows an embodiment of a system in accordance with the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows an embodiment of a job ticket 10 in accordance with the invention; the job ticket 10 includes three input channels 11-13. In fact, Fig. 1 represents a portion of a job ticket 10, namely a so-called "production plan", and only the first part thereof. A production plan specifies how a job is to be processed; in Fig. 1, the data are processed according to the shown steps and in the direction of the arrow, i.e. from left to right. A job ticket 10 defines how a job is to be assembled and processed; a job ticket contains a production plan and additional data.
The embodiment shown in Fig. 1 includes three different input channels 11, 12 and 13. Input channel 11 is a hot folder "INI", input channel 12 is an Appletalk TM channel, "IN2", and input channel 13 is another hot folder "IN3". The definition of input channel 11 includes the location of the folder, on disk, to which files will be copied that are dropped in the hot folder (if e.g. a CD-ROM is delivered with files for the concerned job, all files on the CD-ROM will be copied to this folder, possibly after a check that they comply with specific conditions) . The definition of input channel 11 further includes the expected file type, in this case either PS
(PostScript TM) or PDF (Portable Document FormatTM) . Input channel 12 is defined as an Appletalk TM channel (i.e. for streaming input). It accepts files from a network of Macintosh TM computers, that deliver data directly; the input channel 12 behaves for these computers analogously to a printer. Input channel 13 is defined as a hot folder accepting TIFF files (TIFF stands for Tag Image File Format) . This example illustrates that different settings may be defined for different input channels in a job. In the example, the file type has to be PS or PDF, for input channel 11, respectively TIFF, for input channel 13. This mechanism easily and clearly allows for checks, such as the check for a file type.
Different processing steps may also be defined for different input channels in a job. Referring again to Fig 1, suppose that input channel 13 delivers input from another department within the company, and that this input has to be checked more strictly than the input from input channels 11 and 12. For these two input channels 11, 12 the usual normalizing step 21, "NRM", and the usual preflighting step 31, "PREF" are applied, whereas for input channel 13 another, stricter normalizing step 22, "NRMs" and another, stricter preflighting step 32, "PREFs", are used (a normalizer creates reliable PDF-files from the incoming files, while a preflight tool verifies critical elements, such as font embedding or image quality, of files) . An advantage of the invention is that input channels can easily be stopped when jobs are completed, or when the state of a job changes in some other way. Suppose e.g. that a particular job received all its documents; when the job reaches this state, the job may automatically stop its input channels. This is a protection against further, erroneous documents being input. If an input channel is stopped, it will no longer deliver input. Stopping a hot folder input channel may be implemented by still storing documents in the folder associated with the hot folder, but no longer processing them; stopping an input channel for streaming input may be implemented by removing the stream channel; preferably, the definitions of the input channels are preserved when they are stopped. In this way, stopped input channels can easily be reactivated.
Another advantage of the invention is that, preferably, all input channels of a job are deleted if a job is deleted; a separate clean-up operation of the input channels is thus not necessary.
It is preferred that an input channel only refers to a single job. When the job is submitted for execution, this allows to check for possible conflicts - e.g. a hot folder may not be in use by another job.
Yet another advantage of the invention is that input channels may be stored together with the job in the job ticket, which allows for better system consistency. In a preferred embodiment, by means of the job ticket editor the input mechanisms for the specified job are set up and the input channel definitions are stored within the job ticket. Job tickets may be stored in an extendable standard format like Adobe's PJTF (Portable Job Ticket Format) or the Job Definition Format, JDF, from CIP .
Having described in detail preferred embodiments of the current invention, it will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appending claims .
List of reference signs
10 job ticket 11 input channel 12 input channel 13 input channel 21 normalizer 22 normalizer 31 preflight tool 32 preflight tool

Claims

[CLAIMS]
1. A method for defining a job ticket (10) for a job in a pre-press workflow system, the method comprising the steps of: -defining an input channel (11-13); -defining a job ticket (10); characterized in that said job ticket definition comprises said input channel definition.
2 . The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of: -defining a second input channel (11-13); wherein said job ticket definition comprises said second input channel definition.
3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising the steps of:
-defining a first setting for said input channel (11-13);
-defining a second setting for said second input channel (11- 13) , wherein said second setting is different from said first setting.
. The method according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising the steps of:
-defining a first processing step (21, 31) for said input channel (11-12) ;
-defining a second processing step (22, 32) for said second input channel (13) , wherein said second processing step (22, 32) is different from said first processing step (21, 31) .
5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising the steps of: -checking a state of said job;
-stopping said input channel (11-13) if said state is a particular predetermined state.
6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising the step of:
-storing said input channel (11-13) together with said job ticket (10) .
7. A system for processing data comprising means for carrying out the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
8. The system according to claim 7 further comprising an input device for inputting data to said job via said input channel (11-13) .
9. A computer program comprising computer program code means adapted to perform the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 when said program is run on a computer.
10. A computer readable medium comprising program code adapted to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 when run on a computer.
EP03714932A 2002-02-28 2003-02-27 Method for defining a job ticket in a pre-press workflow system Withdrawn EP1481316A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP03714932A EP1481316A1 (en) 2002-02-28 2003-02-27 Method for defining a job ticket in a pre-press workflow system

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP02100205 2002-02-28
EP02100205 2002-02-28
US37367102P 2002-04-18 2002-04-18
US373671P 2002-04-18
PCT/EP2003/050034 WO2003075148A1 (en) 2002-02-28 2003-02-27 Method for defining a job ticket in a pre-press workflow system
EP03714932A EP1481316A1 (en) 2002-02-28 2003-02-27 Method for defining a job ticket in a pre-press workflow system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1481316A1 true EP1481316A1 (en) 2004-12-01

Family

ID=56290389

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03714932A Withdrawn EP1481316A1 (en) 2002-02-28 2003-02-27 Method for defining a job ticket in a pre-press workflow system

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20050157340A1 (en)
EP (1) EP1481316A1 (en)
JP (1) JP2005519388A (en)
WO (1) WO2003075148A1 (en)

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3534331B2 (en) * 1994-08-09 2004-06-07 ゼロックス コーポレイション How to build multi-segment print jobs from a variety of local and remote sources using a network interface
US5771103A (en) * 1995-08-31 1998-06-23 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Image forming apparatus performing interruption process in electronic sorting mode
DE19844495B4 (en) * 1998-09-29 2005-04-07 Man Roland Druckmaschinen Ag Method for color calibration by means of color management for a digitally controllable printing press with a rewritable printing form
US6509974B1 (en) * 2000-05-17 2003-01-21 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag Automated job creation for job preparation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO03075148A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20050157340A1 (en) 2005-07-21
JP2005519388A (en) 2005-06-30
WO2003075148A1 (en) 2003-09-12

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